The Sims 4: Journey To Batuu is often discussed in terms of Sims players who aren't Star Wars fans. However, what about Star Wars fans who want to play and have never touched The Sims 4 before?
The Sims 4 can seem complex and overwhelming when you first begin but you don't need to learn everything in order to enjoy this game pack. Just a few bits of information can help you get to Batuu in no time. So here's what you need to know if you've never played The Sims 4 before but want to explore Galaxy's Edge.
11 You'll Need To Create A Sim To Start The Game
Even if you decide to use a sim that's already in the world, or download a suitable Star Wars themed character from the gallery, you'll still need to create one yourself. Beginning a new game will require a sim to move into a home. However, you don't need to spend a long time on it.
Create a sim has different dice icons in areas of the character creation screen. Clicking these will generate random names, traits, and looks, so you can make a sim good enough to start the game very quickly. Once in the game, you can change households by exiting back to the manage worlds option to use any other sim you wish. Opening the gallery and downloading a sim can be a great way to find what you need. Then just move them into an empty lot.
10 You Won't Need A House To Play In Batuu
The world of Batuu is a vacation world but it has no cost to visit and there's no restriction on the length of time you spend there. This means that you can purchase a starter house or even just a plot of land and set off straight away.
Your lot will still generate bills so having a blank lot will reduce these. You can then simply pay them when you return from your starting money to get your water and power turned back on.
9 Batuu Is Completely Separate To The Regular Game
Batuu is a separate world and everything in it works in a slightly different way. While playing the tutorial mode is great for getting an overview of how the game works, most aspects of basic gameplay won't apply to Batuu.
While at Galaxy's Edge gameplay will revolve around missions, reputation, and exploration. You won't need a job and you won't need to use simoleons. You'll also play amongst an entirely unique group of NPCs, generated just for Batuu.
8 Batuu Uses A Different Currency
On Batuu Galactic Credits are the currency of choice. You can acquire these from completing missions for the First Order, Resistance, or Scoundrels. Many basic missions are also repeatable, meaning you can keep on earning, even after you've played through the story-based missions.
Credits can be used to buy food and supplies from shops you'll recognize from the Disney Park version. They include Oga's Cantina, Docking Bay 7, Dok-Ondar's Den of Antiquities, Ronto Roasters, and Savi's Lightsaber Workshop.
7 You Will Need To Keep An Eye On Your Needs
Your needs will still deplete while on Batuu so you'll need to keep an eye on them. When you start to see them hit the red, head over to Black Spire Outpost. If you're hungry you can grab some food from Docking Bay 7 or Ronto Roasters and then freshen up in the nearby dwelling to replenish your hygiene and bladder. You'll also be able to sleep there.
Fun and social can be gained through interactions with the locals and maybe a few rounds of Sabacc in the Cantina. Just watch you don't gamble away all your credits.
6 You Can Build Relationships In Batuu
Everyone in Batuu can become a friend, even the stormtroopers. The only restrictions in place are that the named characters can't be interacted with in a romantic way, only as friends.
There are ways to get around this restriction, but they can break your game since Kylo Ren, Lt, Agnon, Vi Moradi, and Hondo Ohnaka are part of the mission storylines, although Kylo plays less of a role, the others are all quest givers so you'll need them around to earn credits.
5 You Can Use The New Items To Build A Regular Home
If you decide that you want to create your own Star Wars inspired world, the pack contains a number of build and buy items that can be used in any regular world. If you only have the base game Oasis Springs makes a great setting for the items aesthetic.
You can also choose to edit the lots on Batuu and add on features you think they need. Currently, they are very faithful to the Disney Park but adding extras such as toilets can make it so you need to travel less if you are living on Batuu.
4 Droids, Souvenirs, And Lightsabers Can Be Taken Home
Star Wars fans that want to explore more of what the base game has to offer in terms of houses, careers, relationships, and gameplay can also take other aspects of Star Wars into a regular game of The Sims 4.
Droids and Lightsabers can be taken to any world using your sims inventory, along with other items you'll pick up on your travels. This means you can keep a little piece of Star Wars at home.
3 Be Careful About Aging
As a default sims will age at the same time as those around them. This will have two effects on your game. One is that your sims will gradually turn older and eventually die and the second is that sims in the world you left will do the same.
If you want to explore Batuu and then come back and meet the iconic residents of Willow Creek, including the Goths and the Pancakes, then you'll need to cut your trip short or set the aging settings to either long or off. You can also toggle the aging of sims around you separately.
2 There Are Unusual Limitations
The game is a crossover of franchises but as a result, it plays very differently to any Star Wars game or Sims 4 pack that has come before it. Combining some elements of each can be a great way to engage both sets of fans but there are limitations.
The world is more limited than you may expect with many buildings being rabbit holes. This is common The Sims 4 with the system being used for University classes and similar. Journey To Batuu uses many existing systems and gives them new purpose but franchise newcomers, in particular, may need to remember that this is a DLC pack, not an entire game in itself.
1 There Are Cheats For (Almost) Everything
If in doubt, cheat. The Sims 4 is known for its excessive cheats and Batuu takes advantage of these. Not only can you cheat in order to get Kylo Ren or Rey into your household (and your bed) but you can also adjust your faction rep and edit the lots.
Most options are available via "shift-click cheats" You'll need to hit Ctrl, Shift, and C on the PC or hold down all four trigger buttons on console. This should make a text box appear in the top left. Then enter the phrase testingcheats on. Once the dialogue confirms cheats are enabled shift-clicking your sim. Console users can press A and B simultaneously on Xbox One or X and O on PlayStation 4. This will bring up new menus where you can solve your sims needs and much more.